Political Notebook: Former press secretary takes on Bush

Weekly political rail, with items on Scott McClellan, latest polls looking at media treatment, Video of the Week and more.

Political Battle of the Week: Scott McClellan vs. Bush administration

Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan sparked a huge controversy this past week when excerpts from his book "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception" were released. McClellan’s main assertion in the book is that President Bush intentionally misled the nation before the Iraq war, and that Bush also "convinces himself to believe what suits his needs at the moment." The reaction from the White House and other Bush backers was, as might be expected, swift and harsh.

What do you think? Is McClellan telling the truth? Is he lying just to make some money? And if he’s telling the truth, why do you think he waited this long to talk about it? Let us know.

Pol Polls

According to recent Gallup polling, here are what Democratic voters have to say about media coverage of Hillary Clinton:

Do you think the media’s treatment of Clinton has been too easy, about right or too hard?

You’ve probably heard of Obama Girl, the gal who has a “crush on Obama” and sings about it in a popular Internet video. Well now there’s Reagan Girl – an ’80s girl who has a crush on the Gipper. Check it out:

Notebook News: Livin’ la Vida Hillary

Ahead of Puerto Rico’s primary, pop star Ricky Martin threw his support behind Hillary Clinton, saying she fights for “what is most important for our families.” Barack Obama shouldn’t be too jealous, however – Martin has a history of flip-flopping on candidates. In early 2001, he headlined a pre-inauguration party for President Bush, but he literally and figuratively gave Bush the middle finger last year.

Notebook News: An overlooked bloc is courted

All three major presidential candidates have done something this year that candidates in the past have not – court the Native American vote. Barack Obama has consistently met with Native American leaders during his campaign stops, and Hillary Clinton and John McCain also recently have been arranging meetings on reservations. “This has never, ever happened before,” Jacqueline Johnson, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, told The Associated Press. While Native Americans make up only about 2 percent of the U.S.’s population, they have wielded influence in at least three recent statewide elections (in Arizona, South Dakota and Montana).

Quote of Note

"I will step in. Because we cannot take this fight to the convention. … It must be over before then."

Nancy Pelosi, in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, responding to Hillary Clinton’s hints that she’ll fight for the nomination until the Democratic Party’s August convention.

The List

According to Betfair.com, here are the top contenders for the Republican vice presidential spot, with the odds:

"Speaking of McCain's medical records, John McCain's doctor says that McCain's service in the Vietnam War is unlikely to have any affect on his health. I think that's great. Yeah. However, the doctor says that McCain's health might be affected by his service in the Civil War." -- Conan O'Brien

"And McCain released 1,200 pages of medical documents this week, to prove that he is healthy. 1,200 pages to prove he's healthy? Man, how many does Dick Cheney have? My God!" -- Jay Leno

"1,200 pages. And here's the amazing part: It only covered the last eight years -- 150 pages a year. I am hoping that that is a font issue (on screen: pages shown with one word on each, in very large font).” -- Jon Stewart

This Week in Political History

June 1, 1990 – President George H. W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev sign a treaty to end chemical weapon production.

June 2, 1886 - President Grover Cleveland marries Frances Folsom in the White House, becoming the only president to wed in the executive mansion.

June 3, 1916 - The National Defense Act is signed into law, increasing the size of the U.S. National Guard by 450,000 men.

June 4, 1912 - Massachusetts becomes the first state to set a minimum wage.

June 5, 1968 - Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan. Kennedy dies the next day.